Device for joining tunnel segments

ABSTRACT

A coupler device for joining together two segments of a tunnel or shaft lining ring, the device being characterised by a double ended male dowel having an externally grooved cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends. This dowel engages in recesses cast into the segment. A reverse tapered sleeve is cast in the recesses retaining an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, these arctuate segments having complimentary grooves on their inner surface to mate with the grooves on the dowel and a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve. As the dowel is inserted the arcuate segments, being retained elastically within the reverse tapered sleeve, lock the male part of the device into the recess preventing the device from pulling out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a coupler device for joining two tunnellining segments together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Previous inventions disclose devices, which align and restraintwo tunnel lining segments of a ring. However they are limited by theaccuracy of their manufacture or the accuracy of the casting of thetunnel lining segment. In all cases the joining device is inserted priorto the segments being pushed together by rams and relies on geometricinterference to provide restraint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to the present invention there is provided a couplerdevice for joining together two construction segments of a constructionmember selected from the group comprising a tunnel lining ring, shaftlining and the like, the coupler device comprising a double ended malefirst part having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to bothends, each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which isformed into a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reversetapered sleeve for retention in one of the construction segments and athird part having an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuatesegments, said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on theirinner surface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first partand a tapered external circumferential portion to abut the reversetapered sleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retainedelastically within the second part.

[0004] The arcuate segments maybe retained by a membrane of elasticallyflexible material.

[0005] In use, as two tunnel lining segments are urged together with themale part engaged in the recesses in both segments the cylindricalgrooved portion adjacent to both ends of the device abuts the internallygrooved arcuate segments retained in the sleeve at the base of therecesses cast in the segments, forcing back and radially outwards theexpandable collar formed by the arcuate segments.

[0006] The movement of the expandable collar is resisted elasticallywhich forces the mating grooves around the internal surfaces of the ringof arcuate segments to engage the cylindrical grooved portion of themale part of the device.

[0007] The tapered external surfaces of the ring of arcuate segmentsengage the surrounding reverse tapered sleeve thus locking the male partof the device into the recess formed in the sides of the segmentspreventing the device from pulling out.

[0008] When segments are urged together it is to be expected that theabutting faces of the tunnel rings do not fully contact one another. Therelationship between the grooved cylindrical portion adjacent to bothends of the male part of device and the expandable collar formed by thearcuate segments is so arranged as to start the expandable collarengaging the grooved cylindrical portion of the male part of the deviceand the tapered external surfaces of the ring of arcuate segmentsengaging the surrounding reverse tapered sleeve prior to fully closingthe gap between the adjacent segments.

[0009] When segments are urged together it is to be expected that theabutting faces of the tunnel rings do not initially fully align one tothe other. The relationship between the expandable collar formed by thearcuate segments and the abutting surface of the surrounding reversetapered sleeve is so arranged as to allow each arcuate segment of theexpandable collar to individually engage the grooved cylindrical portionof the male part of the device prior to full alignment between theadjacent segments.

[0010] The significant advantage gained from this invention is that therestraint does not rely on geometric interference. The highly accuratedimensions of the recesses in the segments and the extremely tighttolerances required when forming the existing devices are not necessary.This means that the device is easier to use, easier to manufacture andmore practical.

[0011] The segments may be made of concrete.

[0012] The central male portion of the device may be made of plastic orsimilar material to provide the necessary strength and durability.

[0013] The central male portion of the device may incorporate additionalstrengthening inserts of other material along its length.

[0014] The central male portion of the device may be double conical inshape to assist in aligning the tunnel segments.

[0015] The arcuate segments forming the expandable collar may beidentical and formed from plastic or similar material to provide thenecessary strength and durability.

[0016] The arcuate segments forming the expandable collar may beintegral at their base with an elastic ring formed from plastic orsimilar material to provide the necessary strength and durability.

[0017] The expandable collar may be formed of any number of arcuatesegments.

[0018] The expandable collar may be retained within an elastic membranewhich may be formed from plastic or similar material to provide thenecessary strength and durability.

[0019] The external surface of the central male portion of the devicemay be serrated or recessed.

[0020] The external surface of the cylindrical ends of the central maleportion of the device may incorporate a series of grooves or recesses.

[0021] The grooves or recesses around the external surface of thecylindrical ends of the central male portion of the device may beindividual concentric rings or threads or discrete recesses.

[0022] The grooves around the internal surface of the arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar of the device may be individual concentricrings or threads or discrete recesses in order to mate with the groovesaround the external surfaces of the central male portion of the deviceto maximising the locking forces between the central male portion andthe expandable collar.

[0023] The external surface of the arcuate segments orming theexpandable collar includes a reverse tapered portion to assist inlocking the central male core into the recesses.

[0024] The external surface of the arcuate segments forming theexpandable collar may have ridges or recesses to assist in maintainingits alignment with the external sleeve.

[0025] The internal surface of the external sleeve may have ridges orrecesses to assist in maintaining the alignment of the arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention is described by way of example with reference tothe following drawings.

[0027]FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an end view of a typicalconcrete tunnel lining ring made up of a plurality of tunnel liningsegments;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of two adjacent ringsjoined together with coupler devices according to this invention;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the coupler device accordingto one embodiment of this invention;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the recess formed in thetunnel lining and the external sleeve of the coupler device according toone embodiment of this invention;

[0031]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the external sleeve of the couplerdevice according to one embodiment of this invention;

[0032]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ring of arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar and the retaining elastic membrane of thecoupler device according to one embodiment of this invention;

[0033]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the extrados of an individual arcuatesegment from the expandable collar with two part sections through theindividual arcuate segment according to one embodiment of thisinvention;

[0034]FIG. 8 is an end view of a separate annular segment forming theexpandable collar according to one embodiment of this invention;

[0035]FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of the elastic membrane thatretains the expandable collar of the coupler device according to oneembodiment of this invention;

[0036]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the elastic membrane thatretains the expandable collar of the coupler device according to oneembodiment of this invention;

[0037]FIG. 11 is a part longitudinal section and side view of the malepart of the coupler device engaged within the expandable collaraccording to a second embodiment of this invention;

[0038]FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the ring of arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar of the coupler device according to asecond embodiment of this invention; and

[0039]FIG. 13 is a part longitudinal section and side view of theexpandable collar device according to a second embodiment of thisinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] It is to be understood that wherever reference is made in thisspecification to a tunnel lining, the present coupler devices are alsointended to be used with lining segments for shafts and the like.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10 of the drawings, a tunnel lining ringis typically made up of plurality of concrete lining segments 1 joinedto one another. Once a ring has been fitted in place in the tunnel, thenext ring can be urged towards the first ring by rams, either as acomplete ring or one segment at a time, and automatically joined to itby coupler devices 2.

[0042] The coupler devices 2 consist of a male part 4 which engage insymmetrical recesses 3A and 3B formed in the abutting faces of thesegments. A reverse tapered sleeve 5 incorporating the expandable collar6 is fixed at the base of each recess 3.

[0043] Each male part 4 of the device 2 has a central double conicalcore 7 which acts as a dowel, and a cylindrical end portion 8 adjacentto the central double conical part of the core 7. The external surfaceof the cylindrical end portion 8 having grooves 9 around itscircumference.

[0044] The central double conical part of the core 7 assists in thealignment between segments and incorporates recesses 10 to provide alimited amount of flexibility without reducing the shear and tensilecapacity of the device.

[0045] Longitudinally along the centre of the male part of the device 4there may be a strengthening rod 11 of another material totally encasedwithin the male part of the device 4.

[0046] Encased at the ends of recesses 3 there is an external sleeve 5of the device which has a reverse tapered portion 12 encasing theexpandable collar 6 engaging on the reverse tapered portion 12 of theexternal sleeve 5.

[0047] The expandable collar 6 consists of a plurality of arcuate wedges13, the inner surface of the arcuate wedges 13 having a number of ridges14 so shaped as to mate with the grooves 9 around the external surfaceof the cylindrical ends 8 of the central male part of the device 4.

[0048] According to one embodiment of this invention the externalsurface of each arcuate wedge 13 incorporates a tapered portion 15engaging on the reverse tapered portion 12 of the external sleeve 5, anda groove 16 locating the surrounding elastic membrane 17. The externalsurface of each arcuate wedge 13 may incorporate a ridge 18 to abutagainst the external sleeve 5 assisting in the alignment of the arcuatewedges 13.

[0049] Around the outer circumference of the ring of arcuate segmentalwedges 13 there is a cylindrical flexible elastic membrane 17. Theelastic membrane 17 incorporates a skirt 19 that locates in a recess 20in the base 21 of the external sleeve 5, a number of slots 22 and anumber of fingers 23 that locate in the grooves 16 in the externalsurface of each of the arcuate wedges 13.

[0050] The external sleeve 5 may incorporate a ridge or recess 24 toengage the ridge 18 formed on the external circumferential surface ofthe arcuate wedges 13 to assist in the alignment of the arcuate wedges13.

[0051] In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 to 13the expandable collar 25 consists of a ring of arcuate wedges 26. Theinner surface of the arcuate wedges 26 having a number of ridges 31 soshaped as to mate with the grooves 9 around the external surface of thecylindrical ends of the central male part of the device 4.

[0052] The external surface of the ring of arcuate wedge 26 incorporatesa tapered portion 27 engaging on the reverse tapered portion 28 of theexternal sleeve 29. The ring of arcuate wedges 26 is retained by anintegral elastic cylinder 30 which forces the ring of arcuate wedges 26to engage with the grooves 9 around the external surface of thecylindrical ends 8 of the central male part of the device 4. The base ofthe elastic cylinder 30 abuts against the external sleeve 29 assistingin the alignment of the expandable collar 25.

We claim:
 1. A coupler device for joining together two constructionsegments of a construction member selected from the group comprising atunnel lining ring, shaft lining and the like, the coupler devicecomprising a double ended male first part having a substantiallycylindrical portion adjacent to both ends, each substantiallycylindrical portion having a surface which is formed into a series ofgrooves, a second part incorporating a reverse tapered sleeve forretention in one of the construction segments and a third part having anexpandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, saidarcuate segments having complementary grooves on their inner surface tomate with the cylindrical portion of said first part and a taperedexternal circumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve ofsaid second part, said arcuate segments being retained elasticallywithin the second part.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein thearcuate segments are retained by a membrane of elastically flexiblematerial.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the relationshipbetween the grooved cylindrical portion adjacent to both ends of themale first part of the device and the expandable collar formed by thearcuate segments is so arranged as to start the expandable collarengaging the grooved cylindrical portion of the male first part of thedevice and the tapered external surfaces of the ring of arcuate segmentsengaging the surrounding reverse tapered sleeve as the segments areurged, in use of the device, together and prior to fully closing the gapbetween the adjacent tunnel lining segments.
 4. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the relationship between the expandable collar formedby the arcuate segments and the abutting surface of the surroundingreverse tapered sleeve is so arranged as to allow, in use, each arcuatesegment of the expandable collar to individually engage the groovedcylindrical portion of the first male part of the device prior to fullalignment between the adjacent tunnel lining segments.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the male first part is made from amaterial selected from the group comprising plastic and similarmaterial.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the male first partincorporates additional strengthening inserts of material other thanplastic or similar material along its length.
 7. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the male first part is double conical in shape toassist in aligning the construction segments.
 8. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the arcuate segments forming the expandable collar areformed of material selected from the group comprising plastic andsimilar material.
 9. A device according to claim 15 wherein the arcuatesegments forming the expandable collar are identical.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the arcuate segments forming theexpandable collar are formed in to an integral base with an elastic ringformed from plastics and similar material.
 11. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the expandable collar is retained within an elasticmembrane.
 12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the expandablecollar is formed from material selected from the group comprisingplastics and similar material.
 13. A device according to claim 1,wherein the external surface of the male first part is serrated.
 14. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the external surface of the malefirst part is recessed.
 15. A device according to claim 1, wherein theexternal surface of the cylindrical ends of the male first partincorporate a series of profiles selected from the group comprisinggrooves and recesses.
 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein theprofiles around the external surface of the cylindrical ends of the malefirst part are selected from the group comprising individual concentricrings, threads and discrete recesses.
 17. A device according to claim 1,wherein the grooves around the internal surface of the arcuate segmentsforming the expandable collar are selected from the group comprisingindividual concentric rings, threads and discrete recesses in order tomate with the grooves around the external surfaces of the male firstpart.
 18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the external surface ofthe arcuate segments forming the expandable collar includes a reversetapered portion to assist in locking the male first part into the tunnellining segments.
 19. A device according to claim 1, wherein the externalsurface of the arcuate segments forming the expandable collar haveprofiles selected from the group comprising ridges and recesses, toassist in maintaining the alignment of the collar with the sleeve.
 20. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface of the sleevehas profiles selected from the group comprising ridges and recesses toassist in maintaining the alignment of the arcuate segments forming theexpandable collar.
 21. Two tunnel lining segments joined by a couplerdevice comprising a double ended male first part having a substantiallycylindrical portion adjacent to both ends, each substantiallycylindrical portion having a surface which is formed into a series ofgrooves, a second part incorporating a reverse tapered sleeve retainedin the tunnel lining segments and a third part having an expandablecollar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments, said arcuate segmentshaving complementary grooves on their inner surface to mate with thecylindrical portion of said first part and a tapered externalcircumferential portion to abut the reverse tapered sleeve of saidsecond part, said arcuate segments being retained elastically within thesecond part.
 22. Two tunnel lining segments according to claim 21,wherein the tunnel lining segments are of concrete.
 23. Two segments ofa shaft lining joined by a coupler device comprising a double ended malefirst part having a substantially cylindrical portion adjacent to bothends, each substantially cylindrical portion having a surface which isformed into a series of grooves, a second part incorporating a reversetapered sleeve retained in the shaft lining segments and a third parthaving an expandable collar formed of a plurality of arcuate segments,said arcuate segments having complementary grooves on their innersurface to mate with the cylindrical portion of said first part and atapered external circumferential portion to abut the reverse taperedsleeve of said second part, said arcuate segments being retainedelastically within the second part.
 24. Two segments of a shaft liningaccording to claim 23, wherein the shaft lining segments are ofconcrete.